The Mandi Lok Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh is witnessing a heated battle in 2024 Lok Sabha elections with actor turned politician Kangana Ranaut of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Vikramaditya Singh of the Congress in the fray. On one hand, where Kangana calls Vikramaditya Singh “Chhota Pappu” and “Shahzada“, Singh has challenged her for an open debate with her vision for Mandi on the Seri Manch in Mandi district.
In an exclusive interview with News18, Singh called Kangana a “challenge for herself”, adding she was a “sycophant”. “She is a challenge for herself only. She is a star campaigner for me because the kind of statements she makes are helping me. She is here for a month and after elections she will go back,” Singh said.
Here are edited excerpts from Singh’s interview with News18:
Q: I followed your rallies yesterday where you said that it is not a party election, it is a ‘Mahayagya’. What does that mean and how do you see your campaign going?
Vikramaditya Singh: When I said that it is not a party election, it is a sankalp, I said this because when I filed my nomination from Mandi Lok Sabha, people from the entire constituency were there. I took a sankalp for holistic development of the Mandi constituency. The tribal area of Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu and the area of Mandi are our priority. There is no BJP or Congress when it comes to development, we have always kept politics out of it. Being a PWD minister of state in last 15 months. we have done work worth Rs 36,000 crore which includes new roads, upgradation etc, and in the coming times, my focus will be the development in Mandi Lok Sabha and Himachal Pradesh.
Q: I have covered many elections of Himachal in the past. But, this time it seems that the campaign has become vitriolic. You say something to Kangana and then she says something. She even calls you “Chhota pappu, Shahzada”. It seems that the focus has shifted from developmental agendas.
Vikramaditya Singh: I said nothing about her, whatever she herself said in her programs, interviews and on social media, I only put it before the public. But as far as the vitriolic campaign is concerned, it is not like that. We do issue-based politics, for us, candidate doesn’t matter. It is a coincidence that BJP brought a film star here and that’s fine, we are focused on our issues. Me and my family have a very close connection with Mandi Lok Sabha. My father and mother both represented Mandi three times each.
Q: Taking from that answer that your father and mother, both represented this constituency and now you are contesting from here, Kangana calls it parivarwaad. Do you consider her a challenge?
Vikramaditya Singh: She is a challenge for herself only. She is a star campaigner for me because the kind of statements she makes are helping me. She is here for a month and after elections she will go back. I challenge her for an open debate at Seri Manch in Mandi. Come and let’s have a debate and let the people decide then. I heard her interview with you, where you asked her about her vision for Mandi. My vision is very clear – Smart City Mandi, to build three tunnels, medical college for Rampur and I have 10-15 such visions. She said that vision is not important in developing a nation, I mean what is this. You don’t have a vision, what sort of fun you are making of people.
Q: You visited Ram temple. She has been talking about Ram Temple also, she said Lord Ram gives you wisdom. But then you came back and you said “siya pati hanuman ki jai.”
Vikramaditya Singh: We have good wisdom. I have good educational qualifications, I am a post graduate from Delhi’s St Stephen’s College. We have got the wisdom which is needed. We will keep learning in the future, one should keep learning. We don’t need her wisdom, we are working and also learning, and if there has been any mistake, we apologise to the public for that. We are working with an open mind. Our narrative is very clear to make Mandi the number 1 constituency in the country. If they question what we have done for Mandi in so many years, I want to tell them them that Rohtang Tunnel’s primary budget, Rs 12,000 cr, was kept during the UPA government when Manmohan Singh was PM, IIT in Mandi, medical college in Ner chowk, all have come under the UPA govt. Yes, it’s fine that work has been taken forward by BJP government also. I call a spade a spade. The BJP has also done some good work and we appreciate that. But Kangana is a sycophant, she has no knowledge about the history or geography of the country. You can’t talk on the basis of Whatsapp university.
Q: This election is on local issues or national? What is your assessment?
Vikramaditya Singh: The issues are local, but yes, it is a Lok Sabha election and national issues will also be discussed. But ultimately, we need to be development oriented for our area. What we can bring for Himachal from Centre – issues like Nautod rule and polygamy in tribal areas in Kinnaur and Lahaul – we want them to be amended. That can be done with the help of central government and from strategic point of view as we have the area bordering China roads and tunnels are important. I have good understanding of all the local issues. Even during the abrogation of Article 370 in J&K, I was the only Congress MLA in HP who supported it. So for me, national integrity, national security are of utmost importance. I went for Ram Mandir consecration, I was the only Himachal Congress leader who was invited and I was there. I am a Ram bhakt. And we know our limit, so I told her not to force us to cross the limit.
Q: You were not in good terms with CM Sukhu and there are allegations that you tried to damage the party and dislodge the government in Himachal.
Vikramaditya Singh: I put forth my views openly, if I have issues in my working and functioning, we will change it and similarly if there is an issue in government, it is my responsibility to raise that too. I am not like those people in BJP who can’t speak before the PM. We can talk to our leadership and we are capable of raising issues and make it right. I’m not scared of anyone, for my people and for their rights, I raise issues before my government. For the same reason, I raised those issues at that time and I thank the high command that they heard us and now things are on the right track. Thus, I stood my ground and also in future, if I realise anything wrong, I will raise it for my people.
Q: But why did you do it only at the time when six Congress MLAs were in hurdle against the party?
Vikramaditya Singh: It did not happen overnight, even in the past when bureaucracy was trying to dominate, I raised this point at that time also. I will not let bureaucracy influence or command the work of my people which is the most important and priority for me. It is a matter of coincidence that this episode of six MLAs unfolded at that time. This is the government which was formed with the efforts of all and we will ensure it completes its term.
Q: We heard that bureaucrats of your ministry don’t listen to you. They are told not to listen to you and nothing gets finalised without CMO approval. What is the status now?
Vikramaditya Singh: Now it is not like that. I am independent. No officer can do it under me. I am a person who gives full support to my ministry officials but if anyone tries to stop or interfere in the works of elected representatives and tries to suppress the voice of our people, I will take the strictest action against such bureaucrats. People’s welfare is the most important thing.
Q: It seems that now all Congress leaders and different rival factions of the Congress party in the state have come together to send you out of the state by helping you win.
Vikramaditya Singh: I am not going out of the state. I will do politics for Himachal and will raise the issues of the state in Parliament. My father Raja Saab started with becoming an MP first and then came to state politics. I am doing it opposite by becoming an MLA first and now contesting Lok Sabha election. It is in our DNA to serve people.
Q: Would your mother contest from your Assembly seat Shimla Rural if you win Lok Sabha?
Vikramaditya Singh: The people of my constituency will decide that. We will speak to our people and also the High Command of the party will take the final decision in this regard.
Q: People say that you were in touch with the BJP. Were you really in touch with BJP?
Vikramaditya Singh: They sent me some feelers to join the party. But I kept them at the door only.
Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Comments
0 comment